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Grand Island parks committee approves minutes, recommends town board appointment and advances splash pad, ADA and trail plans
Summary
The Grand Island Parks & Recreation advisory committee approved November minutes, voted to recommend a town‑board appointment to fill a vacancy, and heard progress reports on a proposed splash pad/bathhouse, ADA access to Field 9, a DASNY trail grant application, Veterans Park drainage, Town Commons power costs and AED donations.
The Grand Island Parks & Recreation advisory committee met to approve its November minutes, forward a recommendation to the town board to fill a vacant seat and review updates on parks projects ranging from a splash pad to ADA paths and trail grants.
Speaker 6 opened the meeting and proposed approval of the November minutes; a motion to approve was made and the committee voted in favor. The committee then agreed to send a recommendation to the town board that Joe (unnamed in the transcript) fill a full‑time spot to complete a vacant term, with members voting in favor of the recommendation.
The meeting included several project updates. Speaker 5 described the splash pad project, saying the vendor and town staff are refining designs to convert the old park shop into a bathhouse and changing rooms "We've got some pretty good designs on that building to, turn that the old, park shop into a ... bathhouse," and noted parking and placement relative to the Miracle League remain under discussion. Committee members agreed to monitor the splash pad item and revisit open questions at future meetings.
Trail and ADA improvements were a central focus. Speaker 5 reported Sandywood bridge decking and approaches are complete and the committee is preparing surface work and a DASNY grant application for broader park trail connections. "We were just finishing the application, and now it's due, like, mid February," Speaker 5 said of the DASNY grant. Speaker 6 asked that ADA paths (including a proposed connection to Field 9) and the DASNY grant be placed on next month’s agenda for follow‑up.
On field access, members discussed a short ADA path to Field 9 so family members and spectators can reach the girls’ softball field; potential approaches ranged from a short blacktop link to routing from adjacent bike paths. Speaker 3 recommended a direct, short route from the existing path and Speaker 6 asked Joe to provide a map showing the proposed alignment.
Infrastructure and staffing updates included a Town Commons electrical estimate. Speaker 5 said the town has established the power needs and is waiting on a price from the electric contractor CIR; committee members asked Pete to return a cost estimate at the next meeting so staff can pursue funding. Speaker 5 also announced that Brian Bridal had submitted his notice and the town is seeking a comparable engineering assistant replacement.
The committee reviewed Veterans Park drainage and the Miracle League project, noting the drainage work has passed approvals and is advancing but that some Miracle League items remain unfinished. Members also discussed the Nike base memorial and historical preservation steps; Speaker 5 said surveys revealed title or property issues that require additional coordination with the VFW and the town’s historic preservation contacts.
Separately, Speaker 3 reported the Lions Club and local league will fund an AED for Veterans Park; the town will provide a solar enclosure and install the unit near the pavilion between Fields 9 and 10. The committee discussed existing AED locations and the possibility of additional, alarmed enclosures to reduce vandalism or theft.
Speakers discussed potential new water access at Bicentennial Park/East River and whether partner groups (including the Greenway Commission and Waterkeeper) could help fund a takeout or kayak launch. Members noted such access would require coordination with the DEC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and compliance with the town's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP).
Before adjourning, the committee confirmed action items: Pete will seek a power price for Town Commons, Speaker 6 and staff will monitor DASNY application progress and ADA items, and Joe will circulate a map for the Field 9 path. The committee voted to adjourn after recording those follow‑ups.
Next steps: the committee will carry the ADA path and DASNY grant items on next month’s agenda, seek a Town Commons power estimate, and continue outreach on the Nike base memorial and water access studies.
